Don't just rely on the clerk's file for an accurate representation of your client's juvenile court record. Always talk to your client and look carefully at the file yourself to make sure that cases are not logged into the clerk's file improperly. This is especially important when your client is facing serious consequences, such as restrictive custody.

Example: Client was charged with what would have been his fourth felony and wanted to plea to the charge. The ADA was asking for restrictive custody. While speaking to his attorney about his record, the client stated that he did not remember entering a plea to one of the felonies. The client had been charged with misdemeanor theft by receiving and felony entering an auto. He plead guilty to the misdemeanor. The clerks record indicated that he had plead to theft by receiving auto. Upon correction of the record, the client was no longer facing restrictive custody.

	Contact Us About Other Juvenile Related Matters If you have comments or questions about any aspect of juvenile law, you may e-mail the staff of the Juvenile Advocacy Office of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council: Name/E-mail Title Susan Teaster Director, Juvenile Advocacy Office Trish McCann Staff Attorney Nashekah Kimbro Division Coordinator